After turning Office into a software-as-a-service product, and moving the same way with Windows, Microsoft is now offering its Surface products as ‘hardware-as-a-service’.
Businesses can use ‘Surface Membership’, to give it its proper name, to lease a Surface Book, Surface Pro 4 or Surface 3 for 18, 24 or 30 months.
Prices start at $33 a month for the Surface 3 on a 30-month plan, rising to $220 a month for the 16GB RAM, 1TB storage Surface Book on an 18-month plan. This works out to several hundred dollars more than the notebook’s base price, but extras are included, such as software, phone support and training. A three- or four-year accidental damage plan is included in the plans.
Members will have the option of upgrading to new Surface devices when they are released, much like a smartphone contract.
